Personal details
- Professions: Producer, Actor, Executive
Aram Tertzakian jumped into the wild world of indie film back in 2008, co-founding XYZ Films with his pals Nick Spicer and Nate Bolotin. He’s the guy steering the content ship—basically, he’s got his hands full with creative development, snapping up new projects, and all the behind-the-scenes wizardry that goes into production. Honestly, XYZ’s track record is stacked. We’re talking over a hundred movies, and these aren’t your run-of-the-mill flicks. Think “I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore” snagging the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, “Under the Shadow” pulling a BAFTA win, “Arctic” showing off at Cannes, “Vivarium” getting Directors Fortnight buzz, and “Mandy” doing its thing at both Sundance and Cannes. Oh, and don’t forget the cult-favorite action blasts “The Raid” and “The Raid 2,” both making serious waves at Sundance and Toronto. Before he was wrangling features at XYZ, Aram was all about creative development, learning the ropes with some serious industry heavyweights. He’s worked under director Alexander Payne, power-producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy, and Ted Field—so yeah, he’s had a front-row seat to how the magic happens. He’s not just about gut instinct either. Aram polished off a Masters of Fine Arts at UCLA’s Producers Program in 2007, and before that, he hit the books at Georgetown, majoring in English with a film focus, graduating magna cum laude in ’04. So, brains and hustle—classic combo.
XYZ Films LLC is a California-based powerhouse, cranking out movies that aren’t afraid to get a little wild around the edges. The company’s got its fingerprints all over some of the gutsiest indie flicks of the last decade, backing directors who actually have something to say (and don’t mind shaking things up). Whether it’s horror, action, or just something totally off the wall, if it’s got that raw, unpredictable energy, odds are XYZ’s been involved. The co-founder didn’t just want to churn out cookie-cutter blockbusters; the whole vibe here is about giving new voices a shot, finding those hidden gems before the mainstream even knows what hit them. They’ve built a rep for taking risks and betting on talent the big studios ignore, and honestly, it’s kind of paid off big time. So, if you’re tired of the usual Hollywood formula, XYZ’s catalog is where you’ll find something weird, wild, and actually worth watching.
Konidela Ram Charan